509 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C.; 4 deaths

There were 509 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. in the last 24 hours, including 86 in the Interior Health region.

The number of people vaccinated for the virus is now 75,914 people, according to a joint statement issued today, Jan. 15, by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

There is a short-term delay in delivery of some of the Pfizer vaccines in the coming weeks as the company upgrades its production facility.

“We are working closely with the federal government to determine how this might impact our immunization rollout in the immediate term,” the statement says.

Nine more people died of the disease, bringing the provincial death toll to 1,047.

“People throughout British Columbia are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” the statement says. “Over the past months, we have all made sacrifices for the health of our families and communities, and now more than ever we need to hold the line and stop transmission of COVID-19 as our vaccination program ramps up.”

Of the 509 new cases, 260 were in the Fraser Health region, 101 in Vancouver Coastal, 13 on Vancouver Island and 49 in the Northern Health region.

There are 4,604 active cases in B.C. with 349 people in hospital, 68 of whom are in intensive care.

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